Automatic time-switch.



R. w; LAWSON & H. B; SNELL. AUTOMATIC TIME SWITCH. v APPLIOLTIQHIILED JAN. 24, 1910.

Patented Apr. 11, 1911.

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AUTOMATIC TIME SWITCH. I APPLICATION FILED JAN. 24, 1910.

Patented Apr. '11, 1911.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

N M N10 R mvzmrou G Hoa /H213 R. W. LAWSON & H. B. SNELL. AUTOMATIC} TIME SWITCH.

APPLICATION Il JED 31115.24. 1910.

Patented Apr. 11,1911;

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R. W. LAWSON 6: H. B. SNELL.

AUTOMATIC TIME SWITCH.

AP P LIOATIOH mum JA1L24, 1910.

Patenfied Apr. 11, 1911.

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. have invented certain new and useful I'm-' provements in- 4 Automatic. Time-Switches; and we do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, will enable others skilled in theiart- UNIT ..-sTA Es-PATnN OFFICE.

RUDOLPH w. LAWSON AND-HARRY B.*fsNELL, OF imiwnn, COLORADO, ASSIGNORS or THOMPSON, 01- DENVER, ooLoRAno.

, NE-HALF To FRED W.

AUToM'aTIc TrME-sWITcH.

To all whom it may cohcernj Be it known that we, RUD LPH W. LAW- soN and HARRY B.-SNELL', citizens of the United States, residing in the city. and county of'Denver and State of Colorado,

such as to which it apperta-ins to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and ,to'the letters'and figures of reference marked thereon, which'form a partof this specification.

' Our invention relates tolmprovements 1n automatic time switches.

Our improved construction is adapted to automatically make and break an electriccircuit at predetermined intervals. The constructlon can be so set that an electriclighting circuit maybe closed at any desired and. only requiring that'it shall be wound up,

- movable member of -a circuit-make-andhour. of the day or night and automatically broken at any desired subsequent time, the.

whole mechanism being entirely automatic at proper intervals. The mechanism includes two spring-held lever arms arranged to be acted .upon by cams which serve to ac separate the arms and prevent them except at stated intervals,

from acting upon the break device located in the lighting circuit.

' .These cams arev so arranged that when one cludes a rotatable post' or spindle acted on by v of them. is moved suiiicient-lyto release one of thelever arms, the latter, acted on by its spring, will move suddenly against themovable member of the make and-brea-k device and shift the latter sufiiciently to close the circuit, the operation being quickly-accomplished to avoid arcing. This, however, will not occur until the predetermined time has arrived. The other cam is arranged to act" upon the other arm of the mechanism and hold the latter away from the movable me1ni ber of the circuit-make-and-break device until the cam releases the said arm, when the latter will move in response to therecoil of its spring, and strike the movable member of. the circuit-make and break device with suflicient force to break the" circuit and extinguish-the lights. The switch mechanism inacoil spring, the spindle being free to rospecification of Letters Patent. Patented Apr. 11, 1911. 7 Application filed ianuary 24, 1910. Serial lilo. 539,857. I

u tate when the spring is under tension. The

two foams while loose upon the spindle are ciently for the purpose. -When this nut is loosened the camsma ybe so adjusted with reference to the spring-actuated arms upon which they act, that the said'arms may be released .to make'and break the electric cir-- cuit at such times as may be desired.

The time switch mechanism is connected in operative relation with a clock movement, whereby the mechanism is accurately regulated and'the movement of the cams retarded to harmonize with the movement of the clock mechanism for obvious reasons.

Having briefly outlined our improved construction-,we will proceed to describe thesame in detail, reference being made tothe accompanying drawing in which is illustratedan embodiment thereof. 1

In this drawing: Figure l isa top plan View of our improved time switch complete,

or shown in connection with the clock mechanism. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same withthe casing shown in section. Fig. .3 is a section taken through the mechanism on the line 33, Fig; 1,- looking toward the left, or in the direction of the arrow. adja cent said line. .Fig. t is a side elevation partly in section illustrating our improved device. The sectional part of this view is taken on theline 4.--4c, Fig. 1. Fig; 5 is a top plan viewof the actuating lever armsshown in connection with the cams which serve to prevent the movement of the arms v for regulating the electrical circuit,

same parts in all the 'views.

The same reference characters indicate the Let the numeral- 5' designate a spindle" which, it may be assumed, occupies a vertical position, though it must be understood that the mechanism will run equally well regardless of the position which it oc- (-upies. This spindle is journaled as shown 7 at 6 in a base plate 7. The lower extremity of the spindle 5 is connected as shown at 8 with a coil-spring 9, whose opposite'extrenr' ityis connected with a suitable stationary support. At the right of the spindle 5, re ferring to Fig. 3, is located a clock mechanism having a wheel or pinion 12 connected in operative relation. with a gear 13 surrounding the spindle sa d resting on 'a;

-; ratchet-wheel 14 made fast to'the spindle as shown at 15. pawl 16 which is secured. to the said gear and engages the ratchet wheel 14 wherebythe movement of the spindle in response to the spring 9 is retarded to harmonize with the movement of the clock mechanism for properly; registering the time of day.

Surrounding the spindle' 5 and extending above the gear 13 is a sleeve 17 whose upper extremity extends 'beyond the mechanism and is threaded to receive a clamping nut 18. Located above the gear 13 and secured thereto is a sort of hub 19 which surrounds the sleeve 17 and forms a support for a cam 20 having anupward ly project-- ing sleeve 20 surrounding the sleeve 17.

Located. above the cam plate 20 and separated therefrom by a washer 21 is a cam plate 22 having an upwardly projecting sleeve 23 surrounding the sleeve 20.

Connected with the cam sleeves 20. and

a circular leaf sprin 31 whose opposite'extremities are embedc ed in the arms 27 and 28 respectively, whereby the said arms when acted on by the said cams are placed under sufiicient tension to actuate the movable member 32 of the circuit-make-and-break device 33. Each arm 27 and 28 has an in; Wardly projecting tooth 34, these teeth of the-two arms being respectively acted on by the cams 20 and 22 of the time switch mechanism.- 1

'Above the cam 22 is located the upper portion 35 of the framework, consisting of three intersecting members 36,37 and 38, the intersecting portions of the said-members forming a sort of hub having an opening 39 of sufficient size to accommodate the spindle 5, the sleeve 17 and the cam sleeves '20 and 23, all of which rotate with the spindle when the clamping nut 17 is tightened. 1 i

Interposed between the clamping nut 18 and the upper ext-reinity of the sleeve 23, is a ring 40 which surrounds the upper part of the cam sleeve-20? and projects slightly above the same, whereby the tightening of thenut acting upon the ring locks the entire mechanism which surrounds the spindle in such relation that all of the said parts The gear 13"has a dog or sea-527 .whilethe OthBP-tOOth is in the plane and therefore in .the path of the cam 22. By loosening the clamping nut 18, the cams may be so set that any desired time will elapse before either cam will release its corresponding1 tooth 34 and allow the arm 27 or 28, as t e case may be, to move inwardly and actuate the movable member 32 of the make-,andbreak device-33. This movable member consists of an insulating base 42;

two metal contacts 43; a metal bar 44; a

channel member 45; and a'striking bar 46, the latter being located within the groove of the channel bar and supported by a centrally located coil-spring 47, the upper extremity of the spring engaging the center of the bar while its lower extremity is seat ed in a recess 48 formed in the insulating base 42.

The contacts 43 are mounted upon the insulating member 42'and are adapted to en? gage cocp'eratingcontacts 49 which are secured to the-insulating base 50 by screws or bolts 51.to which are applied securing nuts 52. The contacts 43 are U-shaped and have upwardly projecting parts engaging both sides of the insulating member '42 of the movable make-and-break device. The said upwardly projecting members beingconnected underneath the insulating member,

The coiiperating contacts 49 are also double and engage both sides of the contacts 43' when the movable member is shifted to close the circuit. These last named contacts, however, are insulated. from each other except when the movable member of the make-andbreak device is shifted to cause the contacts 43 to engage the contacts 49, in which event the contacts 43 bridge the spaces between the two pairs of contacts 49, thus closing the circuit at two points.

The bar 44 of the mak e-and-break device. is provided with end extensions 44 which are slotted as shown at 44"; These extensions engage guide grooves 53 formed in the upwardly projecting end members 54 of a U-shaped angle bracket 55,, the and members being onnected by a longitudinally disposedbase m ember 56 notched on opposite sidesas shown at 57, to receive one member of each pair of stationary contacts '49. These contacts 49'are only shown in Fig. 4 on the far ther side of the base 56, though the angle bracket 55 appears in side elevation in this view. v

The striking pin or bar-46 is provided with two depending ears 58 slotted as shown at 59 to receive pins 60, which connect the two partsof'the channel member 45015 the movable element of the circuit-make-andbreak device. Normally-the spring. 47 supports the striking pin,46 in .ahorizontal or approximately horizontal position and raised as high as the stop pins 60 will permit.

In this event the extremities 61' which are inclined slightly upwardly from the slot-ted lugs 58, lie in the path of the outerext-remities 27 and 28? of the spring-actuated lever arms 27 and 2.8. Now when the machine is in operation, the cams '20 and 22 act to force thelever arms27 and 28 outwardly placing the spring 31 under tension. These cams may beso arranged that either arm27 or 28 may be forced outwardly against the tension of the spring 31, to the maximum degree permitted by the camand then released lVhen. the. ,mechanism is properly set, one of the lever arms willbe forced outwardly and released at any. predetermined time.

to act upon one extremity of the striking bar 46, thereby tilting the opposite extremity of the striking bar downwardly to pass under the other lever arm and force the movable member of the make-and-break device into the circuit-closing position; while the other cam will force the other lever arm outwardly and extinguishing the lights. I In order-to make it practicable to accurately set the mechanism so that the circuit shall be. automatically closed at a predetermined time for the purpose of turningon' lights for instance, and automatically 9 20 and the sleeve 17, passes.

broken at a subsequentpredetermined time,

, for the purpose of breaking the circuit and extinguishing the lights, a graduated dial 62 is employed. This dial is movably mounted,

being provided with an opening 63 through which the cam sleeve 23, as well as the sleeve This dial is freely adjustable and is marked with figures indicating 24 hours, the-figures on one side of the dial,-nam'ely, those on the right hand side (see Fig. 1), indicating a.'m. time, that is to say, from 12 oclock midnight to 12 oclock noon; while the figures on the opposite of left hand side 'of the dial, indicate p. .m. time. or from 12 oclock noon to 12 oclock midnight.

A pointer 64 is secured to theframework by a pin 65, which also forms the pivot which-connects the lever arms 27 and 28. Thisstationary hand or pointer is so arranged that any mark on the dial,62 may be brought into alinement therewith. For instance, if it is desired to turn the lights on at 6 p. m. and to turn them off at 12 oclock midnight; and assuming that the time when the mechanism is set is 12 oclock noon, the figure 12 onthe dial 62, indicating noon, will be turned to the center of the pointer 64, while the pointer pin 24- connected with the sleeve of one cam will be turned to the figure 6, indicating pim. time, while the pointer pin 25 connected with the sleeve of the other cam will be turned to indicate 12 oclock midnight. During the adjustment of the pins 25 and 24 which regulate the cams 20 and 22, respectively, the clamping nut 18 should be loosened. However, after this adjustment, this nut should be tightened, whereby the cams are fric tionally interlocked with the spindlejand the rotation of. the latter impartedby the spring -9, operates the cams and imparts a corresponding movement to the pointer pins '24 and 25. The mechanism is so constructed that whenthe dial 62 and pointer pinsare regulated, as heretofore explained, and as illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawing, that a when the pointer pin 24 has traveledfrom the figure 6 at the left of the dial to the -.12

nism was adjusted, since'during that time the cam with which the pointer 24 is connected has moved far enough to releasethe spring-actuated lever arm 28, whereby the said arm underthe influence of the spring 31' moves quickly toward the right and acts upon the left hand extremity of the striking pin, (see Figs. 1, 2 and 4) and shifts the movable member 32of the .circuit-make-andbreak device 33, sufliciently to bring the contacts 43 into engagement with the cooperating contacts 49, thus closing the circuit. In explaining the path of the current (see Fig. 1), the exterior circuit wires or conductors may be designated by the numerals 66 and 67 and it may be assumed that these wires are connected with the opposite poles of the source of current- The internalcircuit wires or. conductors are designated 68 and 69 and it may be assumed that the lights of the building are supplied with current from these wires. If it be assumed that the current enters the switch through the conductor 66, it will pass to one of the contacts 49 and thence through one of the U-shaped contacts 43 to the other contact 49 and thence through 'the conductor 68 to the lightsof the build-' ing, returning through the conductor 69 to a contact 49 of the left hand pair of contacts, and thence through the left hand contact 43 to the other cotiperating contact 49 and thence through the wire or conductor 67 to the other pole of the source, completing the circuit. Then as the operation of the mechanism continues, and the pointer 25 has traveled from the 12 number at the bottom oclock figure at the top of the dial, the f lights will be turned on, that is to say, just six hours after the time when the mecha of the dial to the 12 number at the top of the dial or where the stationary pointer 64:

is located, the other cam will have traveleda suflicient distance to release the other spring-actuated arm, namely, that designated 27 and the latterwill travel quickly toward the left and act upon the right hand extremity of the striking-bar 46, and shift the'tmovable member of the make-ancl-break device sufficientlyto disengage the contacts 13 from the cooperating contacts 49, whereby the circuit is broken, and the lights auto-.

' hours, whereby each of the pointer pins and .24, together with the cams 20 and 23,

with which they are respectively connected,

is also given a complete rotation every twenty-fourhours, when the mechanism is 25 in constant use.

From what has, already been explained, it

will be understood that the hour when the mechanism is set, as indicated by the figures or'graduations on the dial 62, must always be turnedto the stationary pointer 64, one

of the poin'te'rlpins being set to point toward the figure, on the dial indicating the hour or timewhen the lights are to be turned on;

. while the other pointer pin points toward the'hour or the time when the lights are to 1 he turnedoflL-Then when one pointer pin "travels into al inement with the stationary pointer, the lights will be turned on, while when the other pin has traveled far enou h to assume the same position, the lights w1ll be turned off. Itwill thus benoted that the pointer pins should be so arranged with reference to the .dial that one pin must travel far enough around the dial to measure the time or number of hours from the time the mechanism is set to the time that the lights iareto be turned on; while the other pointer 1 pin must travel a sufficient distance to measure the number of hours between the hour or time that the mechanism is set,.to the time that the lights are to be turned off.

The function of the spring 9 is to furnish,

sufiicient power to impart movement to the spindle 5 and its attachments, while the function of the clock mechanism is to limit the movement of the spindle and its attachments so that the said parts shall movein harmony with the clock mechanism, where by the pointed pins 24. and 25 shall accurately measure time upon the dial 52. In other words, each pointer pin will make a complete rotation-or revolution in 24 hours of time, and if it is desired, to set the mechanism'so that the light circuit shall be closed at a predetermined time and broken at a subsequent predetermined time, the pointers are so set with reference to the time when they are set, so that each shall measure on the dial in traveling from its location of adjustment, the exact time which must elapse before the circuit shall be closed in the. one case, and broken in the other case. The front, portion of the frameextends above the bar 42 of the movable member of the make-and-break device, as shown at 7 O and is recessed as shown at 71 to receive the forward portions of the lever arms 27 and 28. These recesses 71 are closed at the top by a bar 72 whose central portion rests upon the top of the forward part of the frame, its extremities being recessed or cut away to harmonize with the' recesses 71, and to make room for the movement of the lever arms. This construction o'f'the framework forms guides for the lever arms. I

' Having thus described our invention, what we claim is: I

1. In a time switch, the combination with a make-and-break device having a'movable member mounted to reciprocate, of spring actuated lever arms positioned at the opposite end-s ofthe movable member, the movable member having a striking bar lying in the path of said arms and arranged to rock "on said member, cams mounted to rotate and arranged to act on the said arms whereby the latter are first operated to "increasethe tension of the actuating spring, the cams being adjustable to release the lever" arms at predetermined intervals, means. for rotating the cams, and clock mechanism connected to regulate the movement of the cams in syn- .hronism with the clock mechanism, substantially as describeda 2. In a time switch, the combination of a make and break device having a movable member mounted to reciprocate and 4 equipped .with a spring-supported striking bar mounted to rock in said member, springactuated lever arms having portions occupying positions beyond the op osite ends of the striking bar member of t e make-andbreak device, the said member lying in the path of the said arms, cams arranged to act upon the respective armswhereby the actuating spring is first placed under tension, the cams. being arranged to release the said arms at predetermined separated intervals whereby the first arm which is released acts upon the striking bar to shift the movable member of the make-and-break device, the

opposite end of the striking bar being thrust downwardly to pass out of the path of the other arm, means for rotating the cams, and clock mechanism connected in operative relation with said means, for the purpose set forth.

1 3. A time switch, comprising a circuit make-and-break device having. a movable member mounted to reciprocate, a striking 130 bar mounted to rock onsaid movable member, means alternately engaging the extremities of the said striking bar for automati-' cally imparting movementalternately in oping the operating.mechanisin-of the movable I .make-and-break device having a movable member mounted to reciprocate and includposite directions to the movable member of the make-and break device at predetermined intervals, and clock mechanism for regulatmember. of the'makesa'ndebreak device, sub stantially as described. 4;- A time switch, comprising-a circuitihg a striking bar having a centrally located y1eld1ng'support,-the bar being free to rock on said support, means for limiting the upward movement. of its extremities under the influence of the said support, springa'ctu- 'ated lever arms positioned adjacent the striking bar, adjustable cams arranged to act upon said arms to move them outwardly against their spring-and then release them, '-the extremities of the striking bar occupying posit-ions in the path of the-said arms, the camsbeing arranged .to release -the arms at predetermined intervals, means for actuating the cams, andclock mecl'ianism for regulating their movement, for the purpose set forth.-

5. A time switch, comprising a circuitmake-and-break device having "a movable member mounted to reciprocate to rnake and break the circuit, the movable member hav-- ing a striking bar provided with a' centrally located yielding support, the extremities of the striking bar having slotted ears, pins. mounted in the movable member and passing through the slots of the said ears to l1m1t the upward movement of the striking bar extremities, whereby the said striking i bar is so mounted that when force is applied to either extremity thereof the opposite ex tremity will be. depressed, and spring-actuated'lever arms arranged adjacent the 145 striking bar, means for, controlling said arms whereby they are alternately released at predetermined intervals to cause them to act upon theopposite extremities of the striking bar for the purpose of shifting the movable member,.and clock mechanism for regulating the action of the controlling means.

6. A time switch, comprising a circuit-' make-and-break *dev'ice having a movable member" provided with ,a spring-supported striking bar mounted torock within the said member, the extremities of'the' striking bar being normally supported above the body of the movable member, spring-ac,

tuated lever arms arrangedadjacent the striking bar, the extremities of the striking b'ar lying in the path of'the arms during the movement of the latter, and cams arranged to act upon the said arms and alternately release the same at predetermined intervals, means for actuating the cams, and

forrregulating the actuathaving a striking barlying in the path of a the said arms and arranged to rock on the said member, camsfor actuating and a-lter nately'releasing-th-e said arms toallow them to'act upon the movable member of the -make-and-break device, means for operating the cams, clc 'x mechanism for controlling the cam actuating mechan sm, and means for adjusting thecams to cause them to,

alternately release the actuating arms at predetermined intervals, substantially as described. j i u 8. A time make -and-break device, spring actuated arms arrangedadjacent the circuitquakeand-break device, the latter having a member lying in the path of thesaid arms and mountedto rock to allow one extremity to move downwardly and pass out of the path.

'of one arm, while the other arm is acting.

upon its opposite 'extremity, cams for acting upon the said arms, the cams being adjustable to permit the release :of the arms switch, comprising a circuit alternately and at predeterminedintervals,

means for actuating the cams, andcloc'kmechanism independent of the cam actuating mechanism for regulating. the latter to act in harmony with the clock mechanism whereby the movement of the movable member of the circuit-make-and-break device maybe properly timed, substantially as described.

9. A time switch, comprising a c1rcu1tmake-and-break device, including a movable member mounted to reciprocate, spring-actuated arms arranged adjacent the movable member, the latter having a striking bar lying in the path of the arms and arranged to rock the said movable v member, cams arranged to act upon the said arms and alter nately release the same to allow them to act upon the movablemember of'thecircuitmake"-and-break device, -a spindle upon which the cams are loosely mounted, the cams having-independent sleeves, pins connected with fthe sleeves of the cams for purposes of adjustment, means for locking the cams to rotate with the spindle, a dial graduated for time indicating purposes and cooperating with the said pins, means for actuating the spindle, and clock mechanism connected in operative relation wi th the spindle to cause the latter to move n synchronism with the clock mechanism, substantially as described.

10. A time switch, comprising a circuit- 'make-and-break device,inc1uding a reciprocable member having a striking member arranged to rock thereommeans adapted to engage the striking member for actuating the said member, and clock mechanism connected in operative relation with theactuating means to cause the latter to'move in synchronism with the clock mechanism, substantially as described. i

11. A time switch, comprising a circuitmake-and-break device having a reciprocable member, spring actuated arms. arranged adjacent said membe'r having a striking bar, the said member lying 'in the path of the movement of said arms arranged to engage one arm at a time, means acting on the arms to release the same alternately at predetermined intervals, means for operating the arm-releasing means, and clock mechanism-connected in operative relation with the said operating means, for the'purpose set forth.

. Inf testimony whereof we afiix our signa tures in presence of two Witnesses.

RUDOLPH V LAWSON.

HARRY B. SNELL. Witnesses:

JESSIE F. HOBART, A. EBERT OBRIEN. 

